Resources for Voters

EAC maintains the National Mail Voter Registration Form, which voters can use to register to vote and update their registration information. The form is available in seven languages.

EAC also provides voter guides in 11 languages and a variety of links to helpful resources for voters relating to registration, military and overseas voting, accessibility, and volunteering as a poll worker.

Voting System Testing and Certification

HAVA mandates that EAC accredit voting system test laboratories and certify voting equipment, marking the first time the federal government has offered these services to the states.

EAC is committed to running the program in a transparent manner, releasing voting system test plans and reports for the public to review and posting detailed information about the voluntary voting system guidelines, program policies, and related correspondence.

Election Management Resources

One of EAC's top priorities is providing assistance to election officials. We do this by issuing guidance, advisories and best practices to help officials comply with the Help America Vote Act and make other election administration improvements and enhancements.

Payments and Grants

EAC administers federal funding to improve the administration of U.S. elections as authorized by the Help America Vote Act. The commission also manages discretionary, competitive grant programs authorized by HAVA, including the HAVA College Program to recruit college students to serve as poll workers and the HAVA Mock Election Program, which supports activities to educate secondary students in the electoral process.

Research

EAC is responsible under the Help America Vote Act for collecting information about election administration issues and sharing that information with Congress, election officials and the public.

This section contains completed research and reports commissioned by EAC, information about EAC research in progress, and additional elections research issued by other organizations. Datasets are also available to download.

National Voter Registration Act

Voters can use the National Mail Voter Registration Form to register to vote, update registration information due to a change of name, make a change of address, or register with a political party.

The National Form also contains voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory. For more information about registering to vote, contact your state election office. Read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the national form.

Every week we get questions about registering to vote. Recent questions include:

How do you register to vote?

I'm moving right before an election. Can I still vote?

How do I vote if I've moved?

You can register using the process in the state where you live or by using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Please note that registration requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state to find out what is required. Voter registration does not move with you, so you will have to complete a new voter registration form to update your new address. Read more about moving and registering to vote. For more information about re-registering in the jurisdiction of your new address, visit your state’s election office website.

With the resignations of two EAC commissioners, we are receiving lots of questions about which activities require a Commission decision. EAC employees continue to work according to existing policies and procedures that have been adopted by the Commission. For example, the Commission adopted the Voting System Certification and Testing Manual, which delegates the tasks of testing, certifying and decertifying voting equipment to the staff. The Commission acts as the appeal body.

We blog questions posed to EAC and our answers every Monday. Submit questions or comments here, use the comment form or share on Twitter @EACgov.

Can you register to vote using a post office box as your address?
If you are using the National Mail Voter Registration Form, you must use your legal address, which does not include a post office box. If the applicant lives in a rural area and does not have a street address, the national form provides a map in which they can indicate the location of his or her residence. Most states also require people to provide their legal address if they are registering to vote. Go here to access the national form, or visit your state’s election office to learn more.

Every week we get questions about what to do if a voter has moved. Recent questions include:

Can I vote if I've moved?

Do I need to reregister to vote if I move?

Do I need to register to vote again if I move within the same state?

Voter registration does not move with you, so you will have to complete a new voter registration form to update your new address. Read more about moving and registering to vote. For more information about re-registering in the jurisdiction of your new address, visit your state’s election office website. You can register using the process in the state where you live or by using the National Mail Voter Registration Form. Please note that registration requirements vary by state, so be sure to check with your state to find out what is required.

Who appoints EAC commissioners?The Help America Vote Act of 2002 specifies that commissioners are nominated by the President on recommendations from the majority and minority leadership in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.